Carrying case



T. BOX

CARRYING CASE Oct. 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16. 1963 INVENTOR Tff? 562K BY /fw f7@ 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 T. BOX

CARRYING CASE l l i I I -J Oct. 26, 1965 Filed Aug. 16, 1963 BY W7@ United States Patent Oce 3,214,057 Patented Oct. 26, 1965 3,214,057 CARRYING CASE Theodor Box, 5702 251st St., Little Neck, Long Island, N.Y. Filed Aug. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 302,612 3 Claims. (Cl. 220-97) The present invention relates to carrying cases or tote boxes, more particularly, though not limitatively, to cases of the integrally molded type made of a synthetic plastic material and commonly used for the storage and shipment of packaged goods, in particular glass bottles, cartons and the like containers employed for the distribution of milk, beer, fruit juices and the like foods or products.

An important problem in the use of carrying cases of this type consists in the safe and expeditious stacking of a number of cases both during storage and transport. The previously known constructions have been found greatly wanting and deiicient as far as this vital requirement is concerned.

It has become known in recent years to fabricate carrying cases of the type referred to in the form of an integrally molded structure consisting of a light weight and high-impact synthetic plastic material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, such cases essentially comprising a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls and a bottom wall with the latter being formed adjoining to its outer edges with a projecting ridge or iiange, to provide a shoulder or oiiset in conjunction with the lower edge of the case, or a special flange projecting therefrom. As a result of this construction, one case may be stacked upon another case in aligned position of said walls and with the lower edge of the first case interlocking or nesting with the upper edge of the second case.

A serious drawback of a single stack of nesting cases of this type, that is with one case nesting with a single lower case of the stack, is due mainly to the limited stability ofthe stack, whereby to make it necessary to greatly restrict the number of cases which may be stacked safely, not to mention to limitation to a single case of each tier of the stack. This applies to cases of both square and oblong rectangular shape or cross section with one case nesting with a single lower case in a stack.

Another ditiiculty encountered in the stacking of plastic cases of the type referred to is due to the relatively low friction coeliicient of the synthetic plastic material, whereby to involve continuous slipping of the cases and requiring great care during handling and assembly of the stacks. This drawback could not be reduced satisfactorily by roughening the areas of contact of the cases during stacking, storing or otherwise handling of same, such as by the provision of ribs or iiutes upon said surfaces, thus greatly impeding the assembly operations and restricting the number of units which may be assembled or stacked securely and expeditiously.

An important object of the present invention is therefore the provision of an improved carrying case or tote box of the type referred to which will enable the stacking of a plurality of cases in a composite stack containing a number of cases in each tier of the stack and with the cases of one tier nesting or being interlocked with the cases of both the same tier as well as with the cases of the next lower tier of the stack, in such a manner as to enable the practically unlimited stacking of a considerable number of units, while ensuring an adequate allover mechanical stability of the composite stack produced, in the manner as will become further apparent as the following description proceeds.

Among the more specific objects of the invention is the provision of an easily stackable carrying case or tote box of the type referred which will enable a ready and expeditious crosswise or overlapped stacking and mutual interlock of a plurality of cases such as to produce a multiple stack of adequate stability; and by which slipping of the cases during the stacking or assembly operations is reduced to a minimum.

The invention, both as to the foregoing and ancillary objects as well as novel objects thereof, will be better understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specication and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a simple carrying case constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the case shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section through a pair of cases according to the preceding ligure being shown in ordinary or aligned stacking position;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view of a preferred and modified molded case construction consisting of a synthetic plastic and shown in stacked and nested position with a similar case;

FIG. 5 illustrates a simple crosswise stacking arrangement for cases constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates schematically a preferred composite stack assembly comprising multiple tiers of nested or interlocked cases of the type according to the invention.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the different views of the drawings.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention, according to one of its aspects, involves generally the provision of an oblong rectangular and intergrally molded carrying case or tote box comprising a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls of lesser width than said side walls, and a bottom wall formed or provided with a rectangular projecting ridge or ange inwardly of the outer edges thereof, whereby to allow of a first case to be stacked upon second case in relative aligned position of said walls and with the ridge of the first case nesting with the upper edge of the second case. The improvement according to the present invention consists essentially in said ridge being provided with a plurality of interrupting gaps in at least the longer sides thereof, said gaps having a mean spacing distance from the outer corners of said ridge being equal to the difference between the intermediate spacing distances between said side and end walls, respectively, and said gaps having a width in excess of twice the width of the upper edges of the cases.

As a result of this construction of the projecting on nesting ridges of the cases, the latter may now be stacked and nested both in the ordinary manner or relative aligned wall position as well as crosswise for the formation of multiple or composite stacks with the units in one tier of the stack being interlocked both with each other and with the units of the next lower tier of the composite stack, to result in a stack of great stability and other desirable characteristics, as will become further apparent from the following detailed description in reference to the drawings.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 10 designates an oblong rectangular carrying case or tote box having side walls spaced by an inner or inter mediate spacing distance 1, end walls spaced by an intermediate spacing distance w being less than 1, and a bottom wall 12. The latter is formed with a rectangular projecting ridge or flange 13 which may be molded as a unitary structure with the ease, said ridge being spaced from the lower edge of the case by a distance substantially equal to the thickness t1 of the upper edge 11 of the case, whereby to enable stacking and nesting of one case 10a with another case 10 with the respective walls of the cases in relative aligned position, in the manner shown by FIG. 3 and in a manner well known and understood.

While in the drawings, FIGS. 1-3, the cases are shown with straight or smooth walls for simplicity of illustration, the walls if fabricated of a synthetic high-impact plastic may be relatively thin and provided with fianges, stiffening ribs, reinforcing channels and the like, in an effort to re- .duce the weight of the cases, such as shown, for instance Ain FIG. 4, being a partial cross-section through a pair of stacked carrying cases constructed on the manner disclosed in further detail in my .copending patent yapplication Ser. No. 239,891, entitled Plastic Carrying Case, which prior disclosure is hereby embodied in the instant application by reference.

As will be seen, in the case of the aligned stacking of .two or more cases, in the manner shown by FIG. 3, the offset or shoulder provided by the ridges 13 and 13a projecting `from the bottom walls 12 and 12a of the cases rests upon or nests with the top edge 11 of the lower case. In the case of the FIG. 4 modification, the lower flange 15a of the upper case 10a rests upon the upper flange 15 of the lower case 10 of the stack, the reinforcing channels 16 and 16a in the bottom walls in this case replacing the solid ridges 13 and 13a of FIG. 3. Advantageously, the flanges 15 and 15a or the channels 16 and 16a are provided at their underface with ribs, flutes or the like ,to increase friction and reduce slippage of the cases, .during handling as shown at 17, 18, 17a and 18a in FIG. 4.

Despite the afore-mentioned ribs or the like anti-friction means, it has not been possible in the past to sufficiently increase the inherently low friction coefiicient of the syn- Vthetic plastic materials, compared withthe previously used materials, such `as wood, metal, etc., whereby to greatly impede the stacking operations and to restrict the stacks to a relatively limited number of units in practice, aside from the rapidly decreasing stability as more and more cases are stacked upon each other. Most of the foregoing drawbacks and difficulties are due to the obvious fact that `the stacking of cases in aligned position is limited to a single case forming each tier of the stack.

By the improved construction according to the present invention, the units may be stacked and nested in overlapping or crosswise relation, that is, with one case nesting with at least two lower cases, in such a manner as to mutually interlock the cases both within a single tier of the stack as well as the cases of adjacent tiers of the stack, to thereby result in a multiple or composite stack of greatly increased stabilityand other desirable characteristics, as will be further understood by reference to FIG. described in the following.

FIG. 5 illustrates, by way of example, the crosswise stacking of a first or upper case a upon two lower cases 10 Vand 10b placed side by side with their longer or side walls adjoining one another in the manner shown. In order to effect nesting or inter-locking of case 10a with both cases 10 and 10b, at least the longer Ysides of the ridges 13, 13a, 13b, etc. are provided with gaps 2'0 and 21 being equally spaced from the outer corners of said ridges by a predetermined spacing distance and having a width in excess of twice the thickness t1 of the upper edges 11, 11a, 11b, etc., FIGS. 1 and 2, or twice the width t2 of the flanges 15, 15a, 15b, etc., FIG. 4, of the cases, respectively. rl`he number and position of the gaps 20 and 21 depend upon the ratio 1/ w with four gaps being equally spaced from the corners of the ridges 13 for -1/w=l.5:1 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. More specifically, the mean spacing distance of the gaps 20 and 21 from the corners of the ridges 13 should be equal to l-w and the width s of the gaps should be in excess of 2t1 or 2t2, respectively, preferably about 3t1 or 312, as shown in the drawing. As a consequence, it now becomes possible to stack case 10a in crosswise nesting or interlocking relation with both the cases 10 and 10b, FIG. 5, that is, with the gaps 20 of `case 10a-.engaging or interlocking with the edges of the adjoining .upper edges of the side walls of the cases 10 and 10b. In the carne manner, a fourth case (not shown) with its side wall adjoining the side wall of case 10a may be nested With both the cases 10 and 10b, that is, nesting in crossing position may be effected in respect to both the side and end walls of a case, whereby to enable the assembly of fully interlocked multiple or composite stacks of great stability, as shown in greater detail and by way of example by FIG. 6.

With further reference to FIG. 2, as the ratio l/w is increased, the gaps 20 and 21 more and more recede from the `corners of the ridges 13 until, with the ratio 1/ w being equal to 1.5:1, the gaps 21 of the shorter sides of the ridge coincide with one another at the center or symmetry line x-x and thereafter move again in opposite and outward directions as the ratio l/w is further increased beyond the value 1.5:1, Upon reaching a ratio 1/ w equal to 2:1, the gaps 20 in the longer sides of the ridges 13 coincide with the center axis y--y while the gaps 21 disappear altogether. Cases of the latter design may be stacked and nested crosswise in alternate pairs, as Will be understood.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a preferred stacking arrangement comprising seven cases within each tier of the stack, said cases being preferably constructed in the Vmanner shown by FIGS. 3 and 5, that is, with the ratio .1/.w=1:1.5 or less. More specifically, the lower tier of the stack indicated in dashed lines in the drawing com- .prises three cases 11a1, 11a2, 11a3 being aligned and arranged with their side walls adjoining each other, while the remaining two pair of cases 11x14, 11a5 and llas, 11(1,7 also being arranged with the side Walls of each pair adjoining one another, are in turn arranged to adjoin the aligned and walls of the cases 11:11, 11a2, 11a3, in such a vmanner as to leave a free Icentral space or gap 22. Stacked upon the lower tier of cases 11th-11a, is a set or tier of upper cases 10a1-10a7 shown in full lines in the drawing and being relatively arranged in a manner similar to the cases of the first tier 11a1-11a7 but oriented with their free space or gap 23 pointing in a direction opposite to the `direction of the gap 22. In a multiple stack of this type, due to the identical overlaps 11 and 12 in crosswise stacking in respect to both the side and end walls of the cases, complete nesting and interlocking will be effected between the cases of one tier with those of the adjacent tier, as well as between the cases within each individual tier, in the manner shown and understood, whereby result in a composite stack of great stability. As will be further understood, a considerable number of cases may be stacked in this manner with the successive tiers alternating as far as the orientation of the free spaces or gaps 22 and 23 is concerned, while other stacking patterns or arrangements may be devised readily utilizing carrying or storage cases constructed in accordance with the invention, to suit existing conditions and requirements.

In the foregoing, the mean distance of the gaps 20 and 21 from the corners of the ridge 13 has been given as equal to approximately the difference 1-w, while this distance should -be exactly l-w-i-t1, as shown in FIG. 5. However, the relationship is .not critical and also depends on the widths of the gaps. Practically, the most favorable dimensions may be determined by experiment, to suit existing conditions and requirements.

In the foregoing the invention has been described in reference lto a specific illustrative device. It will -be evident, however, that variations and modifications, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those shown herein for illustration, may be made without departing from the broader :scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

I claim:

1. A carrying case of the character described comprising in combination:

(1) a pair of side walls, :a pair of relatively shorter end walls, and a bottom wall,

(2) the distance between said end walls not exceeding 1.5 times the distance between said side walls, and nesting, respectively, with the upper edges of the ad- (3) an integral rectangular channel having side and joining end and side walls of said further cases.

end portions parallel to the respective lower edges 2. In a carrying case as claimed in claim 1, said gaps of said bottom wall and projecting from said bottom having a width about three times the width of the upper Wall ata spacing distance from the outer edges there- 5 edge of said walls. of such as to enable stacking of a first case in aligned 3. A carrying case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said position relative to and upon a second case with the side and end walls have upper reinforced edge portions side .and end portions of the channel of said first of increased thickness compared with the remaining porcase nesting with the upper edges of the adjoining tions of said walls.

side and end walls of said second case, 10 (4) each of the side and end portions of said channel References Clted by the Examiner being provided with a pair of interrupting gaps, each UNITED STATES PATENTS of said gaps being spaced from the corners of said between the spacing distances of said side and end 15 3002650 10/61 L gg 220`97 thickness of the upper edges Aof said side and end FOREIGN PATENTS walls, whereby to enable alternative stacking of said 1,034,501 7/58 Germany first case in crosswise position relative to and upon 2o 8251943 12/ 59 Great Britaina pair of adjoining further cases with adjoining side and end portions of the channel of the first case THERON E' CONDON Pr'mary Exammer' 

1. A CARRYING CASE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (1) A PAIR OF SIDE WALLS, A PAIR OF RELATIVELY SHORTER END WALLS, AND A BOTTOM WALL, (2) THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID END WALLS NOT EXCEEDING 1.5 TIMES THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS, AND (3) AN INTEGRAL RECTANGULAR CHANNEL HAVING SIDE AND END PORTIONS PARALLEL TO THE RESPECTIVE LOWER EDGES OF SAID BOTTOM WALL AND PROJECTING FROM SAID BOTTOM WALL AT A SPACING DISTANCE FROM THE OUTER EDGES THEREOF SUCH AS TO ENABLE STACKING OF A FIRST CASE IN ALIGNED POSITION RELATIVE TO AND UPON A SECOND CASE WITH THE SIDE AND END PORTIONS OF THE CHANNEL OF SAID FIRST CASE NESTING WITH THE UPPER EDGES OF THE ADJOINING SIDE AND END WALLS OF SAID SECOND CASE, (4) EACH OF THE SIDE AND END PORTIONS OF SAID CHANNEL BEING PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF INTERRUPTING GAPS, EACH OF SAID GAPS BEING SPACED FROM THE CORNERS OF SAID CHANNEL BY A DISTANCE OF THE ORDER OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SPACING DISTANCES OF SAID SIDE AND END WALLS, RESPECTIVELY, (5) SAID GAPS HAVING A WIDTH IN EXCESS OF TWICE THE THICKNESS OF THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID SIDE AND END WALLS, WHEREBY TO ENABLE ALTERNATIVE STACKING OF SAID FIRST CASE IN CROSSWISE POSITION RELATIVE TO AND UPON A PAIR OF ADJOINING FURTHER CASES WITH ADJOINING SIDE AND END PORTIONS OF THE CHANNEL OF THE FIRST CASE NESTING, RESPECTIVELY, WITH THE UPPER EDGES OF THE ADJOINING END AND WALLS OF SAID FURTHER CASES. 